DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Testing the Pleistocene aggregate island complex (PAIC) model of diversification in co-distributed avian lineages

菲律宾高度集中的生物多样性，再加上复杂但已被充分理解的地质和气候历史，使菲律宾成为系统地理研究的理想系统。这项研究将评估更新世气候变化、地质历史和复杂地形对一套岛鸟物种多样化过程的相对影响。该项目整合了不同的数据来源，包括线粒体和核DNA序列、地球历史数据、空间建模、正在进行的实地研究和博物馆收藏品研究。这项研究的结果将广泛适用于与气候相关的周期性海平面变化如何影响岛屿系统中生物的多样性和地理分布的问题。菲律宾被认为是一个“超级多样化的国家”和“全球保护热点”，但传统的鸟类物种识别严重低估了多样性和模糊了生物地理模式。这项研究的基因流估计将为整个岛屿群岛的物种限制提供一个有趣的新视角，并可能阐明新的进化模式，并突出菲律宾被低估的鸟类特有中心。该项目还将为堪萨斯大学的本科生提供机会，获得包括DNA测序和分析在内的生物多样性研究技术方面的经验，并培养科学写作和公开演讲等研究技能。

An intense concentration of biodiversity, combined with complex yet well-understood geologic and climatic histories, make the Philippines an ideal system for phylogeographic studies. This research will evaluate the relative effects of Pleistocene climate changes, geological history, and complex topography on the process of diversification in a suite of island bird species. The project integrates diverse sources of data, including mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, earth history data, spatial modeling, ongoing field research, and study of museum collections. The results of this study will broadly apply to questions of how periodic climate-associated sea level changes influenced diversification and the geographic distributions of organisms in island systems.The Philippines is considered a "megadiverse country" and a "global conservation hotspot", yet traditional recognition of bird species has greatly underestimated diversity and obscured biogeographic patterns. Gene flow estimates from this study will provide an interesting new perspective on species limits across an island archipelago, and will likely elucidate novel evolutionary patterns and highlight under-appreciated centers of avian endemism in the Philippines. The project will also provide opportunities for undergraduates at the University of Kansas to gain experience in biodiversity research techniques, including DNA sequencing and analysis, and to develop research skills such as scientific writing and public presentation.